Latest news with #WalterRaleigh
New York Post
2 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Archaeologists may have finally solved the mystery of Roanoke's ‘Lost Colony'
A team of researchers believes they may have cracked one of America's most enduring legends: Where did the settlers of the Roanoke Colony go? The Roanoke Colony, also known as the Lost Colony, was the first permanent English settlement in the United States. A group of over 100 colonists settled on North Carolina's Roanoke Island in 1587, led by Sir Walter Raleigh. John White, the governor of the colony, returned to England for supplies in 1587. When he came back to Roanoke Island in August 1590, he found the settlement mysteriously abandoned – and all the colonists, including his daughter Eleanor Dare and his granddaughter Virginia Dare, gone. One of the only clues remaining at the site was the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a palisade. It either referred to Croatoan Island, which is now called Hatteras Island, or the Croatoan Indians. The mystery has haunted Americans and Brits for the past four centuries, with several investigations launched into the matter. Whether the colonists were killed by Native Americans, starved to death, or left for greener pastures has eluded historians. But new research suggests the colonists' fate may not have been tragic after all. Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at the Royal Agricultural University in England, spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings. 5 A team of researchers believes they may have cracked one of America's most enduring legends: Where did the settlers of the Roanoke Colony go? Getty Images For the past decade, the British researcher has worked with the Croatoan Archaeological Society's Scott Dawson to uncover the mystery. Horton said they've uncovered proof that the colonists assimilated into Croatoan society, thanks to a trash heap. 'We're looking at the middens — that's the rubbish heaps — of the Native Americans living on Hatteras Island, because we deduced that they would have very rapidly been assimilated into the Native American population,' Horton said. The smoking gun at the site? 5 The mystery has haunted Americans and Brits for the past four centuries, with several investigations launched into the matter. Youtube/IslandTimeTV Hammerscale, which are tiny, flaky bits of iron that come from forging iron. Horton said it's definitive proof of iron-working on Hatteras Island, which could have only been done by English colonists. 'The key significance of hammerscale … is that it's evidence of iron-working, of forging, at that moment,' he said. 'Hammerscale is what comes off a blacksmith's forge.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Horton added, 'This is metal that has to be raised to a relatively high temperature … which, of course, [requires] technology that Native Americans at this period did not have.' Hammerscale shows that the English 'must have been working' in this Native American community, according to the expert. But what if the hammerscale came longer after the Roanoke Colony was abandoned? Horton said that's unlikely. 'We found it stratified … underneath layers that we know date to the late 16th or early 17th century,' he said. 'So we know that this dates to the period when the lost colonists would have come to Hatteras Island.' 5 The Roanoke Colony, also known as the Lost Colony, was the first permanent English settlement in the United States. Getty Images 5 'We're looking at the middens — that's the rubbish heaps — of the Native Americans living on Hatteras Island, because we deduced that they would have very rapidly been assimilated into the Native American population,' Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at the Royal Agricultural University in England, said. Youtube/IslandTimeTV 'It's a combination of both its archaeological position but also the fact that it's evidence of people actually using an English technology.' At the site, archaeologists also found guns, nautical fittings, small cannonballs, an engraved slate and a stylus, in addition to wine glasses and beads, which all paint a vivid picture of life on Hatteras Island in the 17th century. When asked if the colonists could have been killed in a later war, Horton said they survived among the Croatoans and successfully assimilated. 'We have one little snippet of historical evidence from the 1700s, which describes people with blue or gray eyes who could remember people who used to be able to read from books,' he said. 'Also, they said there was this ghost ship that was sent out by a man called Raleigh.' 5 When asked if the colonists could have been killed in a later war, Horton said they survived among the Croatoans and successfully assimilated. Youtube/IslandTimeTV Horton added, 'We think that they assimilated into the Native American community and their descendants, their sons, their granddaughters, their grandsons carried on living on Hatteras Island until the early 18th century.' When asked if he's officially solved the mystery, Horton said that though the archaeological evidence is definitive, the legend will probably still endure. 'Have we solved the mystery? Well, you know, it's pretty good evidence, but there's always more work to be done,' he said. Horton added, 'And people love mysteries. They hate resolving things one way or the other. So I'm sure that the mystery will continue, you know, whatever the scientific evidence says.'
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Historic East Cork hotel set to undergo transformation
Youghal's Walter Raleigh Hotel, which dates back to the 18th century, is a boutique hotel that once served as the temporary home for the controversial figure, who reportedly planted the very first potatoes in Ireland. Walter Raleigh was an English planter and former British Army officer who fought in campaigns in France and Ireland, and was given 40,000 acres – including the towns of Youghal and Lismore – following the suppression of the Desmond rebellion in 1579. The hotel is located above the seafront promenade in the town, which is starting to once again enjoy increased tourist numbers, following its heyday as a seaside holiday destination up to the 1970s, when the railway line to Cork was closed. Despite its decline, the Walter Raleigh – which first opened its doors as a hospitality destination in 1902 - stayed open throughout that time. Now, the hotel has been taken over by the American Multinational 'Choice' hotel group, which employs over 1,800 staff and turned over $1.4 billion dollars of revenue in 2022. The group includes brands such as the Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, and Radisson hotels. 'We are delighted to welcome the Walter Raleigh Hotel to the Choice Hotel Group family. This landmark property has long been a beloved destination in East Cork, known for its historic charm, seaside views, and exceptional guest service,' said CEO of Choice Hotel Group Ireland, Andrew O'Neill. 'Our vision is to preserve its character while investing in enhancements that will benefit guests, staff, and the wider Youghal community. It aligns perfectly with our strategy of offering authentic Irish hospitality in exceptional locations.' This Irish franchise deals with five hotels in particular, including Hotel Woodstock in Ennis and The House Hotel in Galway City. Michael Brett, General Manager of the hotel was also thrilled with the acquisition. 'It's an exciting transition going from family operated into a Hotel Group,' he said. 'My team & I are looking forward to working closely with Choice Hotel Group on the Walter Raleigh Hotel and look forward to leading a new beginning for the Hotel under their flag,' Mr Brett added. The group says it plans to undertake a 'sensitive refurbishment' of the hotel after the summer months to further elevate the guest experience, with a focus on preserving its unique period features while upgrading amenities in line with 'contemporary expectations'.
RTÉ News
30-05-2025
- Science
- RTÉ News
7 things you probably didn't know about the humble spud
Analysis: some lesser-known biological, cultural and scientific facts about the vegetable most closely associated with this island (1) The South America connection The Incas of South America cultivated around 250 different species of potato. Today, in most parts of the world, we cultivate just one species – Solanum tuberosum - and it is the third most consumed food crop in the world, after rice and wheat, with over 300 million metric tons being produced globally every year. In South America, over 4,000 different varieties of potato are grown and they are very well adapted to their native region. Many of the most important potato pests and diseases are also native to South America. The Potato Cyst Nematodes and the late blight causal agent Phytophthora infestans are two of the most significant threats to potato production and global food security to originate in South America. The good news is that many potato varieties in South America show some resistance to these pests and diseases so are potential sources of genetic resistance which can be used for breeding new resistant varieties. (2) Spuds and sex Potato is one of the most important vegetatively propagated crops in the world. New plants are usually grown from a potato tuber (or piece of one) called a "seed potato". They are not seeds at all, of course, as they are not the product of sexual reproduction. New plants grown from these "seeds" are genetically identical to the parent plant. This means that potato varieties, such as Golden Wonder and Kerr's Pink, can be maintained in the absence of genetic diversity. From RTÉ Radio 1's Mooney Goes Wild, Eanna ni Lamhna pays homage to the variety of Irish potatoes Potatoes do produce real seeds via their flowers and varieties can produce berries that contain hundreds of seeds. As these real seeds are the product of sexual reproduction, they are not genetically identical to the parent plant so can be a potential source of genetic variation for potato breeding programmes. These real seeds are very important for breeding new potato varieties with greater resistance to a changing climate as well as novel pests and diseases. (3) Ireland and the potato: it's complicated No other food or ingredient symbolises the complexities of Irish food culture more than the potato. As a New World introduction, the ways and means of how it came to Ireland remain unclear with historical realties blurred by romanticised tales and myths of Sir Walter Raleigh and the Spanish Armada (stories claim that the ships' stocks of potatoes were washed up onto Irish stores). The potato had arrived in Ireland by the first decade of the 17th century (if not before) and was initially cultivated as a garden exotic with recipes from Irish country houses revealing its use in ingredient-rich and flavour-intense potato pies. With time, the potato leapt the garden wall becoming a crop of the fields. By the early 19th century, it was the main dietary staple of the rural poor displacing older carbohydrates like oats. The potato has given Ireland traditional, festive and regional dishes like boxty dishes and potato-oaten and potato-apple cakes. From RTÉ Radio 1's CountryWide, Suzanne Campbell reports on how the DNA testing of potatoes being labelled and sold in Donegal as Queens which were in fact a different variety At best, it is the symbol of a simple Irish approach to cooking, but at worst, it is also the symbol of a debased and insecure food system of 19th century Ireland. In recent times, the potato's standing as Ireland's main dietary carbohydrate has been challenged by increased consumption of pasta and rice, especially amongst younger generations. (4) The floury spud The Irish palate favours dry "mealy" potatoes above varieties with waxy-textured flesh and the most popular potatoes here are those with soft and floury texture. In the pre-Famine period, varieties like the Irish Apple commanded good prices above the prevalent and poor quality Lumper potato that dominated the diet of the rural poor. In the post-Famine period, the cultivation of a new variety, the Champion (1862) increased rapidly in part because of its floury texture and nutty aroma and it remained Ireland's most popular potato until into the 1930s. From RTÉ Lyric FM, History On A Plate looks at the life and times of the Irish potato Today, the main commercial varieties like the Rooster and Kerr's Pink can be cooked in a variety of ways. The continued appeal of these floury varieties is a reminder that we assigned commercial, economic and culinary importance to varieties that worked well with other traditional staples like butter, milk and cream. (5) A potato party The complimentary relationship between floury potatoes and dairy produce gave rise to a number of traditional potatoes dishes. These included colcannon (mashed potatoes with butter, milk/cream, cabbage or kale), champ (mashed potatoes with butter, milk/cream, spring onions, or nettles or peas) and poundies (plain mashed potatoes with butter, milk or cream). The socio-economic realties of pre-Famine Ireland made access to expensive floury-potato varieties and butter and cream beyond the means of the rural poor. However, money was spent or goods exchanged in accessing these items to make rich mashed dishes for festive and celebration days and colcannon and champ were made for St Brigid's Day and Hallowe'en. At Hallowe'en, colcannon or champ was the main festive meal and it was also used in the ritual performances of young women in divining their future marriage and love affairs. From RTÉ Archives, the Irish Farmers Association sent 500 tonnes of potatoes to Ethiopia in 1984 and Irish potatoes are now being grown there, reports Michael Lally for RTÉ News (6) The genetics of the spud The most complete potato genome sequence to date has just been published by a group of scientists in Holland. The implication for the research community and, ultimately, the consumer is huge. What the sequence allows us to do is to use genetic data to help us to continue to improve the potato plant using tools that are much faster than traditional breeding methods, tools such as genetic engineering or more recently genome editing. No nation can afford to be complacent when it comes the security of food as economic and climate-based factors can cause massive disturbances to the sector. We know that the potato can address many of the food security issues under threat from growing urbanisation, the emergence of novel pathogens, changing climates, increasing populations, land and water use. The original home of the potato is the Americas and the wild potato here is a hardy species (more than 155 wild species are found). The ability of the wild potato to thrive in varied ecosystems and its ability to resist a number of diseases gives us hope that important disease-resistant genes can be found in these wild relatives. This repository is also an excellent source for future genes for the improvement of our domestic varieties, whether by traditional breeding methods or by utilising the more recent biotech tools. (7) The future of cooking spuds While potatoes have been cooked as a staple in Irish households for centuries, they are today at the forefront of application of very novel advanced food processing technologies. A process called Pulsed Electric Field treatment involves passing electric fields through food to inactivate bacteria and modify cellular structure and is being applied to create crisps and chips. This gives potatoes improved cutting properties and greatly reduced oil uptake during cooking, giving healthier products with great textures. In addition, there has been great interest in the development of 3D printed snacks and food products that are based on the ability of potato starch to produce interesting structures and shapes.
Spectator
30-04-2025
- Spectator
The gender frenzy has wrecked language
'I regard this as a single-sex space,' said my husband as I perched in his study, on the arm of a chair which was piled with books, trying to find out if he'd eat monkfish if provided with it. I doubt the Supreme Court will come to his aid, but gender frenzy has left some puzzling wreckage in the language. The Times recently reported that a drunken architect took a meat cleaver and pursued a teenager, 'who locked themself into the bathroom'. The writer did not want to specify the teenager's sex, but did want to keep him or her singular. Another author in the Guardian wrote about 'how an abuser finds themselves classified in this way'. On the wilder shores of the Sun, a piece explained that 'Someone who calls themself a 'starseed' is a human who believes they were aliens in a past life'. Grammatical number there is a bramble patch. It could have been: 'People who call themselves 'starseeds' are humans who believe they were aliens in a past life.' Perhaps we should have stuck to it as the sexually unspecific pronoun. Babies had long been called it, even when their sex was known. Surprisingly, the chaos of themselves and themself has been going on for 800 years. Of themself, the OED remarks that it is 'somewhat rare between 16th and 19th centuries'. Walter Raleigh, writing in 1618 of the Moors, called them 'the progeny of such Arabians as after their Conquests seated themself in that part of Africa'. Shakespeare, on the other hand, used themselves to refer to one person, as in The Rape of Lucrece: 'Everie one to rest themselves.' One can see subtleties. A magazine in 1905 quoted a woman saying that 'Every one at breakfast, she added, in an awed voice, 'had a finger-bowl to themself'.' It wasn't just for all in the group.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
No, chivalry isn't dead. But its survival depends on you.
Leading off my series on how society can support young men by discussing gentlemanly etiquette is certain to surprise some of you, as it may not seem very important. But please hear me out. Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) was an English adventurer, writer, poet and courtier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a key player in England's early exploration and colonization efforts in the New World. Despite his great achievements, he is mostly remembered for a legendary act of gallantry ― a story that is more legend than history. The story goes that one day, Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth were walking when they encountered a puddle blocking the queen's path. Raleigh removed his cloak and laid it across the puddle, so the queen could walk over it without dirtying her shoes. Today, over four hundred years later, the concept of gentlemanly etiquette might seem outdated. Even though we live in a time where traditional gender roles are being reevaluated, practicing gentlemanly etiquette is not just about being polite; it can be a foundation for many other successes. Holding the door open, looking another in the eyes and offering a firm handshake, or giving up a seat on a crowded bus are small gestures that powerfully exemplify the adage that actions speak louder than words. They are not outdated niceties; they are timeless acts that unapologetically tell us that a real man lives by the decrees of courtesy, civility and respect. Opinion: Bad bill alert — Senate proposal would undermine direct voice for the people Moreover, practicing gentlemanly behavior builds a young man's confidence and self-discipline. Etiquette requires awareness of others and control over one's impulses ― qualities that are essential for personal and professional success. For instance, mastering the art of a thoughtful conversation, where one listens attentively and responds meaningfully, can set a young man apart in job interviews, business meetings, and social gatherings. Some might argue that gentlemanly etiquette is a trivial and insincere performance. This misses the point. True gentlemanly behavior is not about dominance or adhering to rigid gender norms; it is about embodying timeless values like humility and thoughtfulness. For example, pulling out a chair for someone is not about asserting superiority ― it is about creating a moment of thoughtfulness in an otherwise 'it's all about me' world. Opinion: Trump's Cabinet is run by billionaires who don't care about middle class America And gentlemanly etiquette is not just about how one treats others ― it is also about how one treats oneself. A gentleman pays attention to his grooming, dresses appropriately for the occasion and carries himself with dignity ― not out of vanity but out of self-respect. These practices reflect a commitment to presenting the best version of oneself to the world. Of all gentlemanly virtues, if we had to choose only one, the choice would be easy ― respect. If one respects others, then everything else should fall into place. The opposite of respect is not disrespect. It is apathy, which is antithetical to the gentleman; rather, he is a caring defender and champion for fairness and equality. As we delve into the challenges facing young men in upcoming columns, it is essential to do so with lenses that honor and include all people, avoiding perspectives that marginalize those who are different from oneself. Gentlemanly etiquette is not about antiquated chauvinism. It is about, dare I say, modern-day chivalry. If young men embrace these virtues, they won't just be following past tradition; they will be shaping their future. Gentlemanly etiquette isn't about nostalgia; it's about character, confidence and the quiet strength of integrity. Raleigh's cloak may be long gone, but the spirit of his gesture remains. In a world that often rewards volume over virtue, the true mark of a man is not in how loudly he demands respect, but in how effortlessly he gives it. After 38 years in Los Angeles, K. John Lee recently boomeranged back to his Oklahoma roots. He is a financier, real estate investor, former high school teacher and a father of two young men. This column is part of a series he calls "Young Men Adrift." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chivalry isn't dead. Here's why I still believe in it | Opinion
